FORMER residents of reformatory schools who were jailed for offences such as petty theft will not have their criminal records wiped clean.The Government last night said it has no plans to expunge the criminal records of former "offenders" sent to reformatory schools by the courts despite the harrowing physical, sexual and emotional abuse that they suffered.
For years, former child offenders and ex-residents, who claim they were "criminalised" by the judicial system in their youth, have campaigned to have their criminal records wiped clean.
Between 1937 and 1976, some 3,603 children over the age of 12 were sent to reformatory schools for committing criminal offences, serving prison terms of up to two years, despite efforts by judges to imprison children as a last resort.
The majority of crimes committed by the minors were theft and, later, breaking into houses.
The vast majority of residential abuse victims were committed to reformatories and industrial schools after being brought before the District Courts.
They were committed without legal representation and many of the safeguards that "are the hallmark of the adult criminal justice system", according to a special report compiled for the child abuse commission.
Even though most children were committed under a civil procedure, many victims -- who can not obtain official reasons for their committal -- have complained that they regard themselves as being convicted of an offence in a court.
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